by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

by Sam Amick, USA TODAY Sports

The moral of the latest story coming out of Laker Land: only Kobe Bryant can, or should, do a Kobe Bryant impersonation.

The future Hall of Famer who has been imitated by his lighthearted Lakers teammate, Dwight Howard, so many times since they teamed up in the summer did a fine rendition of himself on Sunday in Dallas, scoring 38 points with 12 rebounds and seven assists in a 103-99 win vs. the host Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

The Lakers have 11 wins in their last 15 games and are within 2½ games of a playoff spot. They haven't lost since Bryant guaranteed the team would make the playoffs last week.

And as if his 14-point, 5-of-5 from the field fourth quarter wasn't enough of a closing act, Bryant took to Twitter to take his last shot of the day. After Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said in a Friday radio appearance: "If you look at their (the Lakers') payroll, even if Dwight (Howard) comes back, you've got to ask the question: Should they amnesty Kobe?", Bryant responded postgame by tweeting "Amnesty THAT."

"That's why he's Kobe Bryant," Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni said. "He's not John Smith. No disrespect to John Smith, whoever he is. That's what he does. That's what he loves. That's what he trains for."

The news that Bryant and the Lakers love hearing is Howard finally is doing a good impersonation of his old self recently, playing like the sort of dominant defender and active scorer who could be a game-changer in the postseason - if he's fully healthy and if they get there. Against Dallas, he had 13 rebounds, 12 of those defensive.

Howard clearly came back too early from his April back surgery, and he told reporters on Saturday that his conditioning remains an issue that "cost (the Lakers) a lot of games."

The Lakers' other big offseason acquisition also is finding his rhythm. Steve Nash had 20 points, making four of five three-pointers like Bryant, and four assists. The point guard is being leaned on more as a shooter than playmaker, unlike his days as two-time NBA MVP for the Phoenix Suns. Nash missed most of the first two months of the season with a broken leg.

"He came on in the second half and really gave us a big boost," Bryant said. "He was very aggressive and it forced them to make changes defensively. He's extremely clutch."

The mental aspect of the Lakers' playoff push will be as important as the physical, as Howard and Bryant could still form quite the formidable duo down the stretch if they can overcome this chemistry quandary. Then maybe, just maybe, they'll finally start impersonating a championship-caliber team.